Japanese knotweed: the plant that strikes fear into the heart of every home and business across the country thanks to its incredibly invasive nature and ability to cause extensive damage as it grows.

Photo by dankogreen (Flickr)

Dealing with knotweed on your own property is one thing, but when you have to deal with knotweed that is growing and spreading from a neighbouring property, the situation can and has proven on many occasions in recent history, to become an even bigger problem to contend with. Especially when the neighbours in question choose to ignore it. 

So, what can you do if you have a Japanese knotweed neighbour dispute? Taylor Total Weed Control are here to help! In this blog, we take a closer look at some of the legal issues surrounding Japanese knotweed and its spread and what you can do if your neighbour chooses to ignore it. 

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Removing Japanese knotweed is not a task that should be undertaken lightly. Japanese knotweed is a fierce and unrelenting invasive species that can re-emerge from tiny particles left in the soil. For that reason, it's important that you only employ trained Japanese knotweed technicians to treat your infestation. Working with the right people, who will do a good job of killing and removing Japanese knotweed will save you time, money and heartache.

Who is responsible for treating Japanese knotweed?

The primary legislation for Japanese knotweed is 'section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981’. This states that the person who owns the land with the Japanese knotweed infestation is responsible for preventing the spread onto neighbouring lands. It's not actually a legal obligation for you to remove the offending knotweed, however, left untreated, it will no doubt cause problems for you and neighbours later down the line. The best course of action is to have Japanese knotweed treated and removed professionally as soon as you identify it!

What's involved when treating Japanese knotweed?

Japanese knotweed can be treated in a few different ways. Most often, it's sprayed with a mixture of specialist chemicals which kills the plant above ground and the roots below ground. Then, the soil is excavated to remove any trace of knotweed.

Guidelines set out by the government suggest that anyone wanting to use specialist chemicals to treat Japanese knotweed must do the following:

• Make sure anyone spraying holds a certificate of competence for herbicide use or works under the direct supervision of a certificate holder.

• Carry out a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessment.

• Get permission from Natural England if the area is protected.

• Get permission from the Environment Agency if the plants are near water.

Choose companies with accreditations

If you're not sure who can remove Japanese knotweed and who can't, we'd recommend getting in touch with a professional Japanese knotweed removal company (like ourselves). Companies that specialise in Japanese knotweed removal are likely to have a number of accreditations that show they are competent in handling & removing this invasive species. 

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we have a number of Japanese knotweed accreditations including:

• PCA certification - which shows we follow strict standards and offer a high level of technical knowledge and skills.

• Environmental Agency - we work alongside the environmental agency to ensure that all of our 'land waste' is disposed of properly.

Take a look at our full list of accreditations here.

Professional knotweed removal service

Looking for professional Japanese knotweed removal? Look no further. We have a team of technicians who can all remove Japanese knotweed efficiently. We've been dealing with Japanese knotweed across South Wales and South West England for several years, so we're sure we can tackle your infestation. Don't waste your time with cowboy knotweed removers, stick to people who can remove Japanese knotweed properly.

Japanese Knotweed Removal >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed services, or if you'd like to book a consultation, give us a call on 029 2039 7554. We look forward to hearing from you!

Read More: Do You Need a Licence to Remove Japanese Knotweed?

Japanese knotweed can cause a lot of problems on your property so it's important you can identify it all year round! Now that we're moving into spring, you'll probably notice a lot of different plants emerging in your garden, so it's important to keep your eye out for Japanese knotweed. Left untreated, Japanese knotweed can damage your property and can even prevent you from selling your home. 

Image source: Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (Flickr)

Knowing what Japanese knotweed looks like in the spring can help you save money on treatment, repairs, and lawsuits! That's right, people have been known to sue their neighbors if Japanese knotweed has been allowed to invade their property, so spotting and treating it early is a must!

Read More: What to do if your neighbour has knotweed

Japanese knotweed appears in spring

Most people see Japanese knotweed appear in the garden for the first time during spring. Like all plants, Japanese knotweed grows new shoots that grow up through the soil when the weather starts to get warmer. 

Initially, Japanese knotweed spears will appear. They're red/purple in colour and look very similar to asparagus, with a woody stem and a pointed tip. During spring, the leaves of the Japanese knotweed plant are curled up (they're still very young at this point). 

By the end of spring, these small canes can be up to 3 metres high! Japanese knotweed grows quickly, which is another reason why you should keep your eye out for it during spring. 

Japanese knotweed in summer

If by chance, you don't notice the Japanese knotweed in your garden in summer, you might have a chance to spot it in summer before it spreads too far!

During summer, Japanese knotweed has a lot more foliage, it appears green and leafy with only a few speckles of red/purple left on the stem.

When Japanese knotweed eventually flowers, it has small creamy white flowers, which ironically, are quite pretty. Unfortunately, these little white flowers are a sign of an underlying problem that needs to be dealt with quickly. 

Head to our Japanese knotweed Identification page for more information!

Japanese Knotweed Identification >

Remember to check the plants in your garden regularly during spring and summer. If you spot anything that looks like Japanese knotweed, you should get it checked by Japanese knotweed specialists immediately. Contact us for a Japanese knotweed survey now!

Get In Touch >

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we offer two different types of surveys depending on the level of information that you need. A basic survey will help you identify whether you have Japanese knotweed or not, while our in-depth survey will give you a wealth of information about the problem.

Basic Japanese Knotweed Survey

This Japanese knotweed survey is supplied free of charge*. It will tell you whether or not there is Japanese knotweed on the site and it will tell you the different prices for our treatment options.

Request a Free Survey >

*This survey is free of charge unless there are high travel costs to get to the site.

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